Well-cleaner



(No Model.)

H. G. MEHRINGf.

WELL CLEANER.

No. 251,125. Patented Dec. 20,1881.-

WITNESSES.

N. PETERS. Pwlo-Lilhugnphnr. Wnshmgloll. D. CV

UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY C. MEHRING, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

WELL-CLEANER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 251,125, dated December 20, 1881.

' Application tiled September 27, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY C. MEHu1NG,a citizen ot' the 'United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Vell-Oleaners, which improvemeut is fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawing, in which the figure is a vertical section ofthe well-cleaner embodying my invention.

The objectof myinvention isthe ready cleans,- ing ofa cesspool or well through adrain or outlet to a sewer or other place of discharge by means ofa valve which may be opened by hand and automatically.

The invention consists of a valve, a float connected thereto, and a hand-operated chain, &c., attached to the valve, or to the connection of the oat and valve, whereby the valve may be opened by the hand-connection without raising the iloat, and when the water in the well rises to a certain height the valve is automatically opened bythe float without the latter being required to risethelength of the hand-connection. 'lhe hand -connection and connection of the valve and float are entirely outside of the oat, so that said oatcannot bind on the connection, and the float and connection cannot clog one with the other.

Referring to the drawing, A represents a cesspoolordug privy-wellofusualconstruction, and B represents an inlet or pipe, which may be employed for directing water, Ste., from the yard, spouts, water-closets, Ste., into the well.

At or near the bottom of the well is an ontlet or drain pipe, C, which opens into the well and communicates with a sewer or other place of discharge, said drain being properlysupported on masonry, brick-work, &c., at the bottom of the well, and having fitted to its upperend a valve, D, for closing the drain.

To the valve D is connected a rod, cord, or chain, E, which depends from a float, F, which latter is suspended by a rod, cord, or chain, G, from the floor ofthe privy or side ofthe well, so as to be out of reach or concealed, and thus not be tampered with.

H represents a rod, cord, or chain which is attached to the chain E, and has its upper end within convenient reach in the privy.

Then it is desired to clean the well the valve D is opened by raising the connection or chain H and the matters tlow through the drain C into the sewer. By releasing the connection H the valve immediately closes and remains closed, thus preventing the escape of sewergas into the well.

The base ot' the well is preferably concave, dishing, or depressed, and the upper end of the drain-pipe projects above the center ot'said base, whereby n certain alnountof water may remain on the base to keep it moist and cover the joint of the valve and its seat on the drainpipe, said seat being grooved and packed,and the valve being flanged to dip into the groove and provide a seal for the valve. The buoyancy of the float F is greater than the weight of the valve D, and the length of the connection or chain E is such that when the valve D is closed and the water, Src., in the well rises to a height where it is important that the well should be drained thereof', should it not have been attended to by operation ot' the hand-connection H, the said float, lifted by the water, raises the valve D, and the contents ot' the well immediately ljow out of the drain, and so the well is emptied, the automatic operation of the i valve preventing overflow of the well or filling of the well higher than is desirable.

The handle or ring a at the upper end ofthe chain H is inclosed in a box, b, on the privyseat, properly locked or otherwise guarded, for preventing improper access to said chain.

As the iloat is suspended by the chain G, it is prevented from being battered, as it cannot drop to the bottom of the well or be thrown around to any extent by the operation of the hand-connection H.

I am aware that it is not new to provide a water-closet with a valve having a spindle which sustains a dont and operates the supplyvalve, said spindle having checks or collars, one above andthe other below the oat, whereby when the spindle is raised by hand it lifts both the float and valve, as well as operates vthe supply-valve, and when the Boat rises by the action of the water it lifts both the valve and spindle. In the former case it necessitates greaterexertion to open the valve by'hand, and in the latter case a larger doat is requisite, owing to its necessity of lifting the entire weight ofthe spindle and valve, all ot' which objec- IOO tionable features are remedied by my construetion, the connection E being` furthermore sustained by the float, thus dispensing with a guided valve-spindle, as exists in the watereloset above referred to.

I am also aware that sewers have been provided with Valves to which are attached floats, each having below it a chain connecting it with the valve, and above it a chain by which the valve may be Opened; but in this case when the valve is raised by hand the float is also lifted with it.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The privy-Well Aand drain-pipe C, having4 a valve, D, in combination With the oat F,

-the inelOsing-box b, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

HENRY C. MEHRING.

Witnesses JOHN A. WIEDERSHEIM, F. COOPER. 

